“Proton-M” with the station “exomars” set at the launch complex – TASS

MOSCOW, 11 March. / TASS /. Russian carrier rocket “Proton-M” with the joint Russian-European interplanetary station “exomars” designed to search for traces of life on the Red Planet, is installed on the launch pad Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan), said the state corporation “Roscosmos”.

“at the moment the launch vehicle” Proton-M “delivered to the launch pad Baikonur 200 and installed in an upright position”, – stated in the

The launch is scheduled for March 14 at 12:31 MSK. .

The mission “exomars 2016″ consists of two spacecraft – an orbiter Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and the demonstration landing module Schiaparelli

It is expected that the first stage of “Proton”. separated at 12:33 MSK, the second – at 12:36 MSK, and the third – at 12:41 MSK. After that, the upper stage “Breeze-M” four motors connected devices displays “exomars” on the path leading to the fourth planet from the sun. At 23:12 MSK he separates from TGO Schiaparelli and ligaments, which will continue to fly on their own.

At 00:24 MSK on March 15 “exomars” command will turn on appliances, four minutes will unfold its solar panels. At this point, the mission will be released for the first time to communicate with the Earth, its signal will Malindi station located in Kenya. Three minutes later, the European flight control center will receive data on the state of the interplanetary station systems.

The Way “exomars” takes seven months. It is planned on 16 October Schiaparelli separated from TGO, to October 19 first entered the atmosphere of Mars and the other planets went into orbit. Braking of the Martian atmosphere TGO will be about a year, so that the beginning of the scientific instruments of the unit is scheduled for mid-year 2017. According to specialists, the orbiter will last until the end of 2022.

TGO will study trace gases in the atmosphere of Mars and distribution of water ice in the soil of the planet. The device will be used, including Russian scientific equipment developed at the Institute of Space Research.

Schiaparelli Demo module is designed for testing input technologies into the atmosphere, descent, landing and research on Mars. He will work on the planet only a few days until the end of charge of the battery. He “pave the way” for the second phase of the mission – 2018 Mars landing platform sent the Russian and European rover. Key objectives for the second phase of the program will be drilling and analysis of Martian soil. Scientists believe that at a depth of several meters could be preserved traces of organic life.